Letter to the Coliseum Commission

To the members of the Coliseum Commission,

My name is J. T. Murphy. I am a Writer who attended the University of Southern California, and I owe the school immensely for its boost to my career and my character. I send this letter on behalf of the Trojan football program and Director of Athletics, Michael L. Garrett. I am concerned about our beloved Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The stadium needs complete replacement of facilities, across the board. Concessions have not been commensurate with the services offered at all modern athletic sites. Restrooms are inadequate, to say the least, especially with the Trojans being as popular as they are today. The media systems are grossly inadequate, including the video and sound systems and the scoreboards. They must be replaced with state-of-the-art systems that are easily obtainable.

The Coliseum is a prestigious landmark and it is a shame that the structure on which it is built has been allowed to deteriorate to its current state. Stairs, walkways, and infrastructure are all made of concrete, and they need significant repair. All seats must be replaced. Currently, access to this stadium is inefficient and safety is a concern. Elevators and escalators are needed to improve this, as well as a reconfiguration of the entry gates.

Mike Garrett informed me that the University asked to participate in the decisions affecting a stadium that has primarily served as the home of its football program for over 80 years. He stated that the University requested opportunities to control more of the Coliseum's revenue, that is in fact generated by the Trojan football program, in order to offset the cost to the school of repairing the stadium. In exchange, USC is prepared to spend $100 million of the budget of the Athletics Department on all the necessary renovations. Also, USC could guarantee a much more active Coliseum year-round, beyond home football games.

This offer was rejected. I cannot fathom the reason. USC has asked for changes to the Coliseum. USC has asked to pay for them, and to make sure they are made properly and efficiently. The NFL has stated time and time again that they will not do this. Taxpayers should not be asked to do this. USC, however, wants to take action in all facets. The University has a vested interest in the advancement and upkeep of the Coliseum. The University can ensure the success of using the stadium for entertainment purposes, given its active student body. Nothing would change for the Coliseum Commission, aside from a significant increase in revenue.

Please allow USC to be more than a tenant. Let the school direct and fund the renovation and repair of the Coliseum in concert with the Coliseum Commission, the city, the county, and the state. At the same time, give this fine University control of more of the stadium's revenue to balance the expenses of refurbishment.

When each one of us came to the community at USC, we learned about The Trojan. Let me tell you, it is more than a nickname for our sports teams. The people that really buy into the Trojan Family, including me, become Trojans themselves. It is the reason USC has stayed with the Coliseum all these years, while other teams have come and gone. It is the reason we have such a remarkable relationship with our surrounding neighborhoods, and the financial data is there to back it up. Home games bring $5 million each fall to the local economy. Each year, $4 billion from USC goes into it.

We want to remain in the Coliseum. We want to tailgate on University Park, and visit Heritage Hall, and witness Step Off. We want to see the Spirit of Troy take the field before kickoff and fill our hearts with drumbeats. We want to see the lighting of the Olympic Torch precede another Trojan victory. We want those memories to remain the same.

There is another side to being a Trojan. It involves being strong in the face of something unpleasant. That is what we are prepared to do. If we have to, we will deal with our team playing home games in the Rose Bowl. That is not an empty threat. We may not like it, but the students, alumni, and fans will do what we must in order to help the football program.

I implore the Coliseum Commission to reconsider its position. USC's offer is advantageous. However, the current course on which these negotiations have been set is detrimental to the Commission. A few seasons of Trojan home games in the Rose Bowl and public opinion may swell beyond simply supporting USC.

The calls for the University to own the Coliseum outright may grow in number and strength.